Kind: captions
Language: en
Pohan Jae, North Tapanuli District
My name is Parasian Pardede,
but people call me Ama Tumiar.
I live in Nagasaribu Onan Harbangan,
Pohan Jae Village, Siborongborong Subdistrict,
North Tapanuli District.
My father told me...
...that haminjon (benzoin) trees
have been around...
...since our ancestors’ arrival
in Nagasaribu Onan Harbangan.
They realized that
benzoin trees provided them...
...with income and a way of life,
so they looked for
the seeds to plant.
When he was still alive,
my father told me...
...that benzoin trees had been
planted for five generations.
To harvest the resin,
we must use this knife.
The resin is collected from
the edges of previously-made cuts.
Once the resin hardens
it is carefully scraped,
so as not to damage
the uncut bark.
Otherwise the tree trunk will
become damaged over time.
That is the procedure.
After we collect the resin,
more are exuded from the tree trunk...
...which we call ‘Tahir’.
We don't distinguish number one
or number two quality.
We clean the resin
from the bark...
...and sell them to middlemen (touke).
Styrax (Styrax benzoin)
Distributed in Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan
Uses for benzoin resin:
traditional uses: ritual
modern uses: cosmetics, perfumes, medicine
Export value (2017):
USD 44.28 milllion = IDR 642 billion
Sihaporas, Simalungun District
My name is Oppung Moris Ambarita...
...from the Lamtoras community.
Lamtoras is short for…
...Indigenous Peoples of
the Oppung Mamontang Laut Ambarita Sihaporas.
About the indigenous people of Sihaporas...
...we are descendants of
Oppung Mangutanglaut Ambarita Sihaporas.
Oppung Mangutanglaut Ambarita came
from Samosir to Sihaporas...
...in the 1800s.
After relocating to Sihaporas,
he cleared a plot of land.
He declared it as customary land...
...and asked for the land
to never be sold.
In Sihaporas there are
several rituals...
...that must be performed every year.
Others are performed every four years,
such as Patarias Debata.
Patarias Debata is the act of...
...praising and worshipping
the Almighty God.
We do this ritual
every four years,
alternating with the
Raga Raga Nabolak Parsilaonan ceremony.
This is to praise
and honor the ancestors,
including Oppung Mangutang Laut.
Oiii!
Come here, everyone!
Take a break and
have some coffee.
We're all tired.
Come have a look,
not because there's food, come.
I'm thirsty already,
what time is it?
Nowadays the profit from benzoin
is not like it was back then.
I used to be able to produce
80kg of benzoin every year.
But since PT TPL came,
benzoin yield has decreased.
Now I’m only able to get
less than 80kg each year.
Benzoin trees need
other trees for cover.
I can’t plant any more to
the few benzoin trees I have.
TPL cleared all of
the area around the forests.
We can't expand
our benzoin forest either.
We’re learning from the past.
We'll renovate these ponds
so that we can harvest the Pora-pora fish.
This is one of
the ritual requirements.
Do you intend
to farm the fish here?
In the past, pora-pora fish
were found in every river.
But this area has been
contaminated by TPL workers.
They used poison to catch fish,
and now the fish are gone.
When the Sihaporas land
was still intact,
we had no difficulties
in performing our rituals.
Once PT TPL was established here,
our rituals were disrupted.
Including taking clean water from us.
One of the most important components
for us is clean and holy water,
which is now increasingly
difficult to access.
Other things for our rituals
such as ambu-ambuan,
rudang tree, Batak fish (Pora-pora),
and bamboo for making lemang,
we used to collect from
the forest but they're all gone now,
cleared by TPL.
Since the 1980s,
70,000 Tano Batak customary forests
are destroyed by PT Inti Indorayon Utama,
now known as PT Toba Pulp Lestari.
Another 20,000 customary forests are
now at risk as a result conflict with PT Toba Pulp Lestari.
This is the struggle of the Tano Batak people
to defend their customary forests.
Singkam Mabarbar
The Calamity
Balige, Toba
This is a call to Shutdown TPL
by walking from Toba to Jakarta.
We've had enough of PT Toba Pulp Lestari
destroying the environment...
...and indigenous peoples
in the Batak land.
In his time, our National Hero Sisingamangaraja
fought against the colonists for 30 years,
and now we're battling colonists
from our own country.
Once we arrive in Jakarta, we want to share
our aspirations with President Joko Widodo.
We'll provide all the evidence,
so that TPL will be shut down
not because of this footmarch,
but for their sins
in these past 30 years.
We will walk for 1,700 km,
or about 40 km every day,
and it will take us
45 to 50 days to get there.
May God bless you
and may all goes well.
Amen.
Day 1
June 14th, 2021
Footmarch of the Team of 11
Toba to Jakarta
Footmarch of the Team of 11
Toba to Jakarta
1758 km
Siborongborong, North Tapanuli
My name is Nelson Siregar.
I am a retired pastor,
and now I'm a farmer.
PT Indorayon was established
with the government's Maduma program...
...from the Secretary for
Development Operations Management,
at the time led by Solihin GP.
In Indorayon's approach,
back then it was very centralized,
because it was the Suharto era.
The national government delegated
directly to the local government.
The local government promptly gathered
the community's customary leaders...
...and asked them to hand over their lands
to be developed into eucalyptus plantation.
From PT Inti Indorayon Utama
to PT Toba Pulp Lestari
PT Inti Indorayon Utama was established in April 26th, 1983
by Sukanto Tanoto, head of the Garuda Mas Group.
PT Inti Indorayon Utama constructed
a 200-hectare mill in Porsea along Toba Lake.
PT Inti Indorayon Utama was granted
Forest Concession Rights for 269,060 ha.
PT IIU produced
Pulp: raw material for paper
Rayon: raw material for textile
Ever since the grabbing of
the forest and customary land,
that’s when the peoples’ struggles began.
When the people were
fighting against Indorayon,
the Huria Batak Protestant Church
conflict also broke out. I was imprisoned.
I witnessed and experienced
so many beatings and violence done unto me,
and much worse to the farmers.
There was no legal process.
I was there twice
for about six months.
Those farmers and I
had no legal proceedings.
In the 1990s, the resistance intensified
in several villages and regions.
Those farmers and I
had no legal proceedings.
A monetary crisis struck Indonesia
on May 1998, leading to riots.
These events culminated on May 21st, 1998
with President Soeharto stepping down
and was succeeded by BJ Habibie.
On 1 March 1990, then-President BJ Habibie halted
PT Inti Indorayon Utama's operations.
Gus Dur upheld that decision,
but it was revived...
...with a new term, they said
they changed into a new paradigm.
Indorayon was renamed and
rayon production was shut down,
and Toba Pulp Lestari was born
and pulp production resumed.
That is their so-called new paradigm.
PT Inti Indorayon Utama became PT Toba Pulp Lestari
PT Toba Pulp Lestari only
produces pulp (raw material for paper)
PT Toba Pulp Lestari inherited
PT Inti Indorayon Utama’s forest concession
PT Toba Pulp Lestari was granted
forest concession rights for 113,340 ha
PT Toba Pulp Lestari was granted
forest concession rights for 188,055 ha
PT Toba Pulp Lestari was granted
forest concession rights for 167,912 ha
20,754 ha
of TPL’s concessions are
the Tano Batak people’s customary forest
167,912 ha
Nearly 3 times the size of Jakarta
Day 6
Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, June 19th, 2021
Team of 11
Shutdown TPL Footmarch
Christian Gultom – Farmer
Erwin Hutabarat – Driver
Ferry Sihombing – Repair Shop Entrepeneur
Irwandi Sirait – Tailor
Jevri Manik – Entrepreneur
Lambok Siregar – Culinary Worker
Oni Anita Hutagalung – Housewife
Togu Simorangkir – Farmer
Yman Munthe – Tongging Village staff
Bumi Simorangkir – 3rd Grade Student
When I chose these people,
I made it clear that
we wouldn't get paid.
They had to support
their families themselves,
there is no money
from this footmarch.
All these movements are
built on three pillars:
genuineness, sincerity, militant.
After all, we are free people
and can’t be bought.
I wanted the bananas.
We took a break
before we got back on the road.
I got hungry but was
hesitant to call the crew.
Why didn’t I do it sooner?
Turned out we got some banana.
I want to show my friends...
...that even though I’m a person
with disability, I still care.
I want to show them that
they shouldn’t give up the fight so easily.
For the sake of our beloved Lake Toba,
that’s our only motivation.
As a teenager, I grew up watching
my parents in my village fight against PT TPL.
They marched, protested,
all the while conserving the forest.
I believe that the company is oppressing us
and everyone in Lake Toba.
18 May 2021
28 days before the Toba-Jakarta footmarch
We had been resting
for about on hour.
By then less than half of all the people
were out on the clearing,
most went home for lunch.
PT TPL seized the chance
to start their attack.
There was a confrontation.
There was a lot of pushing,
shoving and throwing.
They threw sharpened branches and stones
that were collected beforehand.
I didn’t know how they got
all those stones so quickly.
The Natumingka people confronted
hundreds of PT TPL workers escorted by security personnel,
who were on their way to plant trees in the concession,
which is the Natumingka’s customary forest.
The Natumingka people are determined to fight
until the last drop of our blood.
We are to die to protect
our ancestral land.
I made my way into
the center of the crowd.
I asked Natumingka people
to go home.
I told them
we’re not here to die.
When I stood in
the middle of the crowd,
people started backing away.
Something was thrown
and hit my head.
Blood was running
down my temple.
Then I rushed into a car
and was driven to a health clinic.
In the evening, some folks from Natumingka
visited me in the hospital.
I asked how things were,
and they replied the situation is safer.
No one was killed,
but 12 were injured.
Victims of the Natumingka riots
Now we are in Dolok Ginjang.
This used to be
our benzoin forest.
But because there were some powerful individuals,
the land was taken by TPL.
Now there’s no vegetation
surrounding our benzoin trees,
one by one they’re cut down.
We're pushed further away.
Everything has turned into shrubs.
We don’t know how
we’ll feed our children.
That’s the reality
we want the government to see.
Listen to the common people like us.
500 hectares has been destroyed.
Imagine 500 hectares gone,
our livelihoods gone.
We don’t know
what will happen to us.
Only those in power will have their bellies full.
Farmers like us won’t have anything to eat.
I am Pastor Haposan Sinambela.
I serve the Eben Haezer Pandumaan Pentecostal
or Charismatic Church.
I was born, raised,
and to this day still live here.
In 2009 we began
fighting against PT TPL.
We saw that
the company acted shady.
They did not consult nor inform
the community before entering our land,
but instead bribed people...
...with the promise of a million rupiahs
per hectare of land.
In 2011, the community and PT TPL clashed.
The Police’s Mobile Brigade arrived
in huge numbers in our village.
They tore down our homes
and trampled on the elderly.
They came and arrested me,
accusing me of being an instigator.
But not for long because
the entire community, young and old,
gathered demanding that
I should be released from police custody.
They couldn't hold back the community
and transferred me to the provincial police station.
Protests at the Humbang Hasundutan District Police Station
February 2013
31 people were arrested after clashes when protecting
4000 hectares of customary forest in Pandumaan Sipituhuta Village
Of the 31 people arrested,
15 have been released.
16 others (including Pastor Haposan Sinambela) were
named as suspects and imprisoned.
We were defending
our ancestors' legacy to protect it...
...from being taken away
by this big corporate.
That is why we’re imprisoned.
We pray that God
will speak through you...
...and inform the public about our situation,
so that we can be released immediately.
We heard rumors that we are
to be transferred to a correctional facility.
We hope our lawyers can
find out the reason for this.
We prefer to stay here until the end
rather than being relocated.
On Monday, after learning about
yet another encroachment of our lands,
the elders and I decided
to send some people to the forest.
However, we asked them
not to be anarchic.
I said, I'll send you off
with a prayer for God's protection.
If you find people working there, don’t bother them,
just make sure they are arrested.
O Lord, this is my only offering,
My body and soul
For I have no riches
Worthy to offer you
This, O Lord, is my only wish
Take, O Lord, my offering
I shall be yours
till the end of my days
This used to be
our ancestral village.
But now everything is
gone since PT TPL arrived.
Vanished, destroyed, and nothing left.
We've exhausted ourselves searching
for our ancestors' graves.
It's all nowhere to be seen.
How will we locate them
if can't see them?
We’ve been here for 15 generations.
We built Natinggir village.
We can no longer find
our ancestors’ graves...
...because of TPL.
I used to know
the exact location of the graves.
I’d notice my surroundings
when I go into the forest.
Every time on my way to
and from our benzoin forest.
I’d pass the gravesite
through this path.
Our ancestors' graves can’t be found
after Indorayon or TPL arrived.
How can we know
where is our ancestors' gravesite?
This is what we wanted to tell you.
Gone are our ancestors’ bones
in Natinggir because of TPL.
As indigenous Batak people,
we have traditions or ancestral legacies
that we’ve inherited.
This includes customary lands
passed down from our ancestors.
This is the way our ancestors administered
the village for Batak people.
Natural borders for indigenous
Batak peoples include certain trees,
rivers, tributaries, and mountains.
They serve as natural boundaries
between villages' customary lands.
There were no boundary dispute
between indigenous communities.
In fact, conflicts started after PT TPL
encroached on the customary lands.
PT TPL vs Customary Forests
. Consession Area of PT TPL
. Customary Forest
. Forest of the State
We can trace the origins of state
forests back to Dutch colonial maps.
Which were lated adopted
by the Government after the independence.
During the New Order era,
the Government granted concessions...
...but refused to acknowledge
the existence of long-established communities.
This is the root of agrarian conflicts
in the Lake Toba region.
It's because there are so many villages
or huta in the concession...
granted to PT Inti Indorayon Utama, or PT TPL,
with hundreds of thousands of villagers.
Day 41, 1,601 Km
Bakauuheni, Lampung, July 24th 2021
We have a protocol for them
to take breaks after two hours of walking,
even if they’re not yet tired.
They walk 40 km a day.
I stop every two hours
to allow them to rest,
rest their muscles, avoid cramps,
and not overly strain themselves.
It has been a long journey;
multiply 41 days by 40 km.
What’s Bumi doing?
Sleeping, he’s probably full.
He's great, strong willed.
Did he walk with the others?
He does when he wants to,
and gets in the car
when he's tired.
He doesn’t seem to be fussy?
No, he's a sweet
and obedient kid.
We've finally crossed Bakauheni
and arrived at the Port of Merak.
We finally landed on Java Island.
On the ferry I wrote
a letter to the President,
asking if he would meet with the Team of 11
to discuss about our aspiration.
These are benzoin trees
but are not Toba benzoin.
TPL cut them down
three weeks ago.
We, the Naguhulambu
indigenous people, oppose this...
...because we rely on
the forest for our livelihood.
We tried to defend it, but the company dispatched
the Mobile Brigade and security officers,
who intimidated is.
We keep watch during the day
but at night they destroy it.
There are benzoin, jengkol, palm,
and stink bean trees, and all will be cut down.
How will we find food
if everything is destroyed?
They even filled up the river.
Pohan Jae, North Tapanuli District
I don’t know what the number one
and two qualities are.
Will you set the price
or will we combine the two?
These are IDR 200,000/kg,
but these are IDR 100,000/kg.
KSPPM (Community Studies
and Initiative Development Group) is a local NGO...
...based in Tapanuli, North Sumatra.
Currently we facilitate
23 indigenous communities.
The estimated loss caused by the destruction of
benzoin forest for a single community...
...is up to IDR 100 billion per year.
For example, Pandumaan Sipituhuta
comprises 700 households.
Before TPL came, they were able to save
at least IDR 20 million rupiah a year.
And this figure is only for
Humbang Hasundutan District.
What about losses in
North Tapanuli and Toba...
...where benzoin farmers make up
the majority of the population?
After TPL’s arrival, Toba communities have lost
more than IDR 10 trillion per year...
...due to the destruction of
the benzoin forests.
Nothing is more important to us
than the lives of our children.
Since TPL came,
this is the condition of our rice fields.
We can no longer harvest.
Who can we cry to?
Life is hard in Tornauli.
It hurts to see
our rice fields like this.
It’s miserable
to live here right now.
We are right behind
TPL’s nursery center.
As Pastor Faber stated, there are indications of
toxic substances here,
and several people experienced rashes
after washing their feet with this water.
As we can see, the water directly
flows to community farms.
Without further investigation,
this can cause harm to the community.
This is wastewater from
Toba Pulp Lestari’s nursery center,
operating around
the communities in Lake Toba.
PT TPL’s operations have caused ecological
as well as social impacts.
Just wrap it like this.
It protects us
from the heat or cold.
I am a grandmother now,
and I want my grandchildren
to see and enjoy Lake Toba,
which has always been
famous for its natural beauty,
instead of how it is today.
Day 42, 1660 Km
Serang, Banten, July 25th 2021
Lake Toba was formed by
a massive supervolcano eruption 75,000 years ago
In 2017, Lake Toba was designated
as one of the National Tourism Strategic Areas (KSPN).
President Joko Widodo has visited
Lake Toba five times since 2014.
In 2020, IDR 1.33 trilion was allocated
for the infrastructure and KSPN development.
This requires significant investments
and funds from the state budget.
This blended finance will elevate
Lake Toba to a high-class tourist destination.
To improve Lake Toba, we must work
on the its surroundings...
...as well as the environment.
We have to put
in all our efforts.
As we can see, TPL’s operations are
polluting water sources...
...and destroying
surrounding environment.
This is the source of
drinking water...
for hundreds of people in Matio Sub-village
in West Patuguran Village.
We will address
the forest issues and reforest.
We will address
the forest issues and reforest.
We don’t want
to shut it down...
...but might have to
if there are no solution.
We’ve stopped them, but they return
to work when we leave.
They’ve destroyed this area
with their heavy equipments.
What’s worst is that they apply fertilizers,
pesticides and toxic chemicals...
...to the plants above
the water sources.
When it rains it seeps
into our water reservoir.
We beg the government
to solve this problem...
...because we haven’t had water
for almost two weeks.
Deforestation in Lake Toba is
mostly caused by PT TPL.
Natural forests are converted
into monoculture eucalyptus plantations.
Hundreds of rivers dry up
in TPL concession.
For the past 10 years, KSPPM
and AMAN Tano Batak have recorded...
...12 flash floods downstream
of TPL concession,
causing eight deaths, not to mention
the destruction farms and other losses.
Disasters since PT Inti Indorayon Utama
began operations
August 1987
Landslide
Victims: 43 people buried by landslide
7 October 1987
Landslide
Victims: 18 people died
25 November 1989
Landslide
Victims: 14 people died, 5 houses destroyed,
30 ha rice fields buried 6 ha farm destroyed.
9 August 1988
Wastewater reservoir breached
One million cubic meter wastewater polluted Asahan River
5 November 1993
Boiler exploded and chlorine leaked, causing air pollution
2 March 1994
Wastewater reservoir breached
One million cubic meter wastewater polluted Asahan River
31 December 2018 Landslide
5 May 2021 Flash floods
25 November 1989 Landslide
Victims: 14 people died, 5 houses destroyed
30 ha rice fields buried, 6 ha farm destroyed
Day 44, 1,758 Km
July 27th, 2021
We will take the antigen test.
It’s free.
Jakarta is currently under level four
community activity restrictions.
All protesters must take the test.
All of you, including drivers and pedestrians,
please take the antigen test.
Healthcare workers,
prepare yourself.
Take the antigen test.
Whose kid is this?
Where’s his parent?
I’m his father.
You make kids join this rally.
Why are you wearing have
that symbol in a protest?
It’s the symbol of
Sisingamangaraja.
Yes, I’m also Batak.
That’s my ancestor.
I have a right to wear this symbol.
That’s my ancestor.
I have a right to wear this symbol.
He wants to
protect the Lake Toba.
He can’t possibly wish
to protect Lake Toba
What’s your family name?
You don’t need to know that.
Jakarta is under emergency lockdown.
We follow the rules.
Let’s follow the police’s instruction
and take the antigen test.
Team of 11, stay calm.
Don’t get provoked.
Let’s pray that
we all test negative.
Must be negative.
We’ve been walking
since morning.
We’re all going to Wisma Atlet
to be quarantined since I tested reactive.
We’ll follow the instruction because
we’re not against the government.
We just want to
express our aspirations.
At least now,
we’ve been in a sweat box.
Wisma Atlet Emergency COVID-19 Hospital refused the Team of 11,
including Togu Simorangkir who tested reactive.
…held several protests pushing
for the shut down of TPL.
Toba District People’s Representative
Council and Head of District Office
June 29th, 2021
North Tapanuli District People’s Representative Council
and Head of District Office
July 7th, 2021
Humbang Hasundutan District People’s Representative Council
and Head of District Office
July 19th, 2021
Eight days after being stopped by the police,
the Team of 11 is invited…
…by President Joko Widodo
to come to State Palace
For the protection of
Lake Toba and Tano Batak,
and the prosperity of
future generations.
We stay strong.
Keep struggling,
keep fighting.
Shut down TPL.
Day 52
State Palace, August 6th 2021
Surprisingly Togu got a call
last night from the State Palace.
The President wants
to meet the Team of 11...
...but we can only
send one representative.
Togu did not immediately accept it.
He wanted the entire team
to come along...
...since we walked together for
days and thousands of kilometers.
But we understand,
we have to protect the President.
We finally convinced Togu to go.
Hello, Sir.
I am sorry, because of pandemic
I cannot receive all of you.
I told Togu that
(the decision letter of) 15 customary forests...
...will be signed this month,
That’s about 14,000 ha.
Togu will take copies of the signed
(decision letters for) five customary forests.
The other fifteen will be
finished this month, OK?
Where’s Opung Anita?
I am here, Sir.
OK, you’re there.
Here, this is Bumi.
Alright, have a safe journey home.
We love you, Sir.
Horas!!!
In the meeting with Togu Simorangkir (Team of 11),
President Joko Widodo stated that…
…he has signed Decision Letters
for 5 customary forests.
However, only one of the five customary forests
(Pandumaan-Sipituhuta) is fully stipulated,
the rest are still reserved forests.
Only two customary forests
are in conflict with TPL.
Three others are fighting
their state forest status.
The condition of the customary forests is
still very alarming.
Constitutional Court Decision number 35 of 2012
stated that customary forests are not state forests.
The Constitutional Court has decided
that customary forests are not state forest.
March 2021 the Indigenous Peoples
Alliance of the Archipelago…
and 2 indigenous communities (Kasepuhan Cisitu and Kenegerian Kuntu)
filed for a judicial review of the Law no. 41
on Forestry to the Constitutional Court.
The contested article was one
that stipulated customary forest as state forest.
On 16 May 2013, the Constitutional Court
through Decision no. 35/PUU-X/2012…
…concerning Customary Forests ruled that:
1. Customary forests are forests located in the areas of
customary law communities (Article 1 par. 6)
2. 2. Control of forest by the state must consider
the rights of customary law communities,
as long as they live and in line with development
of the people and state principles (Article 2 par. 3)
But to this day the Indigenous Peoples Bill
has yet to be passed.
We’ve done so much
to reclaim our customary lands.
We have been fighting since 1998.
We’ve spent so much time.
First on the agenda is for the company to inform us
of the follow-up action as I’ve requested.
We tried to reach out to the central government
and meet with Madam Minister.
She advised us to register
with the Ancestral Domain Registration Agency (BRWA).
We cannot facilitate the business
and the guarantees cannot fulfill their obligations.
Like I said before,
we can revoke it.
We’ve attempted to get a certificate
for Sipahoras customary land from BRWA.
After the certificate was granted,
we met with the minister again.
She told to us to be patient
because although the certificate was issued,
we couldn’t plant on the land
until TPL is shut down.
To this date the concession
continues to operate.
The Team of 11 for Shutdown TPL
has returned to their homes around Lake Toba,
and resumed their everyday routine.
Similarly, PT Toba Pulp Lestari
continues to operate.
The Tano Batak people continues
to reclaim their customary forests…
and oppose TPL’s operations.
This gate was constructed to prevent TPL…
…from entering Natumingka Village
to harvest eucalyptus.
RIP
Pastor Haposan Sinambela
Passed away during the making of this film
This film is dedicated to
the Tano Batak people who lost their lives,
were injured and criminalized in the conflicts
with PT Inti Indorayon and PT Toba Pulp Lestari.